to dismiss someone or something as unimportant; to not take seriously or think important; to put aside or pay no
attention to. The
term is
thought to
refer to the
action of brushing unwanted
dirt off of clothing; however, it is also possibly an allusion to the
action of a Pullman
porter (a railroad
employee who waits on passengers in a Pullman car, a passenger car with especially comfortable furnishings for
day or especially for night travel) who, sensing a poor
tip from one of his passengers, gave that person just a few flicks with his clothes brush, then passed on to the next
customer.
to dismiss someone or something as unimportant; to not take seriously or think important; to put aside or pay no
attention to. The
term is
thought to
refer to the
action of brushing unwanted
dirt off of clothing.